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Study okay would take trail to river

Approximately 30 residents of Adams County, both supportive and not, turned out for the informational hearing on the plans of South Adams Trails Inc. (SATI) in Geneva on Thursday night.
Roger Kottlowski of Commonwealth Engineers, Inc., explained that SATI has submitted its environmental study on the proposed trail from Geneva's Rainbow Lake to the Wabash River to INDOT (Indiana Department of Transportation) for review, as INDOT will be funding half of the project (the other half having been provided by donations). He said that if the study is approved, land will have to be acquired and bids let, so there probably won't be any actual construction for another year.
In response to county Commissioner Doug Bauman's question, Ann Mouser, a landscape architect with Studio A, explained that an environmental study involves gathering information about an area to see if a project is feasible there. She said agencies are contacted, and the area is explored to determine if there are any endangered species or hazards, as well as to see what public opinion on the project is by reading the newspaper, etc.
Rickie Clark, a representative of INDOT, said it is currently still evaluating potential impacts and it is "wonderful that people are taking such an interest in this project."
For further details see today's print edition or e-edition.